Breathing Through Concrete
Beijing, China
2025, Senior, Interactive & Multimedia
Project Description: My installation explores the tension and potential harmony between urban development and nature in the age of the “Concrete Jungle.” I constructed the base using stacked cardboard rectangles of various sizes, forming a cityscape of simplified, block-like buildings. To simulate the harsh texture of concrete, I applied layers of tissue paper and painted over them with acrylic paint in muted gray tones. These represent the artificial and rigid structures of modern cities. However, life finds a way. Emerging from the cracks between the buildings are small plants, symbolizing nature’s resilience and its will to coexist, even in the most hostile environments. What truly brings the piece to life is an interactive component. The digital projection uses generative algorithms to translate the growth patterns of plant root systems into a flowing particle system. These luminous traces spread across the ground and pillars, forming an ever-evolving virtual ecosystem. Hidden within the rooftop vegetation is a programmable LED strip controlled by Arduino. Under normal conditions, the installation remains dim and desolate—urban, sterile, and seemingly lifeless. But when a viewer approaches, sensors trigger soft green lights to pulse in a slow breathing rhythm. It’s as if the greenery is coming alive, regaining its breath in response to human presence. The work seeks to move beyond a simple binary opposition, presenting a more nuanced state of symbiosis. Rigid geometry and organic forms, static structures and dynamic light, human intervention and natural growth—these elements engage in a layered dialectic. Through this immersive experience, the audience is invited to reflect: Amid the inevitable process of urbanization, how can we become participants in the ecosystem, rather than its conquerors?
Reflection
The idea for this installation came from my daily experiences living in a rapidly urbanizing city. I often noticed how small traces of nature—grass between cracks, vines on walls—persisted despite layers of concrete. This contrast made me wonder: in a future dominated by steel and stone, could nature still find its place? That question became the seed of this project. I was inspired by the silent resilience of plants and their ability to adapt, survive, and even reclaim space within hostile urban environments. I wanted to create a piece that not only reflects this quiet strength but also makes people pause and acknowledge the presence of nature we so often overlook. Through this artwork, I hope to send a message of hope and responsibility: that we are not separate from nature, and the future of urban life depends on whether we choose to become its caretakers—or its conquerors.